The Digital Services Act (DSA) is designed to foster a safer, fairer, and more transparent online environment (→ eucrim 4/2022, 228-230). It establishes new obligations for online platforms, thereby ensuring that EU users are safeguarded against the dissemination of illicit goods and content and that their rights are respected when they engage in interactions, share information, or make purchases online. The DSA is a crucial touchstone for law enforcement purposes (→ eucrim 1/2024, 13).

This news item continues the reporting on the latest developments concerning the DSA in the form of a chronological overview. It covers the period from February to April 2025. For overviews of the previous developments: April-August 2024 →eucrim 2/2024, 94-95; September-October 2024 →eucrim 3/2024, 178; November 2024-January 2025 →eucrim 4/2024, 272-273.

• 6 February 2025: As part of an ongoing investigation, the European Commission requests detailed information from the mutlinational online clothing retailer Shein. This includes: internal documents addressing risks related to illegal goods on its platform, the transparency of its recommender system, and data access for researchers; measures taken to protect consumers, public health, user wellbeing, and personal data. The inquiry is separate from but complements a parallel investigation into Shein’s consumer law compliance, led by the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network.
• 19 February 2025: The Commission releases a new Research API for the DSA Transparency Database, enabling programmatic access to content moderation data submitted by online platforms across the EU. The database, operational since September 2023, now holds over 26 billion entries, tracking moderation actions with anonymised statements of reasons. The API allows technically skilled users—particularly academic and policy researchers—to query the last six months of indexed data, supporting both longitudinal and cross-platform analysis. Developed in response to feedback from the research community, the tool enhances scrutiny and supports the DSA's enforcement framework.
• 20 February 2025: The Commission releases a new best-practice toolkit to support application of the DSA during electoral periods. Designed for national regulators—Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs)—, the toolkit offers practical guidance for addressing online risks linked to elections. The toolkit draws from experiences gained over the past year in mitigating threats posed by VLOPs and VLOSEs. It includes strategies to tackle issues such as hate speech, disinformation, online harassment, and manipulation of public opinion, including risks related to AI-generated content and impersonation.
• 14 March 2025: Vodafone and other internet providers are taking legal action against blocking orders issued by the North Rhine-Westphalia State Media Authority (Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein-Westfalen [LfM], Germany) against hardcore sex portals such as Pornhub and YouPorn. Vodafone has filed lawsuits against the orders before the Düsseldorf Administrative Court. In essence, the case centres on whether the LfM still has jurisdiction in this area or whether the Digital Services Act (DSA) now gives sole jurisdiction to the European Commission. The ruling could have far-reaching consequences for the availability of online pornography in Germany.
• 25 March 2025: Key signatories of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation—Google, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok—publish their latest transparency reports, outlining measures taken between July and December 2024 to tackle disinformation. The reports include actions related to the war in Ukraine, the Hamas-Israel conflict, and safeguarding election integrity. This is the fifth such biannual report. Following its endorsement on 13 February 2025, the Code will become a formal part of the DSA framework as of 1 July 2025, serving as a benchmark for DSA compliance under Art. 35.
• 10 April 2025: Seven entities found a European network of out-of-court dispute resolution bodies in accordance with the DSA. The alliance includes dispute resolution bodies from Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Slovakia and Hungary. Out-of-court dispute resolution bodies are one of alternative means foreseen in the DSA to which users can address themselves and request a review of a platform’s content moderation decision. Online platforms are obliged to engage with this body. The network aims to exchange information and ideas on mediation work and discuss proven technical standards. The participating entities also hope that the cooperation will simplify interaction with online platforms and regulatory authorities. They also want to better inform the general public about the new user tool.
• 29 April 2025: The European Board of Digital Services - an independent group that advises the Commission on the application and enforcement of the DSA - holds its 13th meeting. The Board, inter alia, discussed an upcoming report on prominent systemic risks under Art. 35(2) DSA and the revised draft delegated act on data access. Safeguards for younger users in the digital environment and protection of minors were also discussed.